The military has obtained a copy of a video showing 79-year-old Irish priest Michael Sinnott saying that his captors are demanding $2 million in exchange for his freedom.
Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner, Armed Forces public affairs office chief, however, could not say when was the footage taken or how the military intelligence got hold of the video.
“According to him (Sinnott), the leader of the group that is holding him is Abu Jandal," said Brawner, adding that the priest appeared weak on the video. He said the intelligence community was checking on the background of Abu Jandal.
“He (Sinnott) said there is a demand of two million and the ones that took him is Abu Jandal, that is our only information," he added.
Brawner, however, said the military would not give in to the demand of Sinnott's abductors. “No. The stand of the AFP is we will uphold the no ransom police (of the government). Our only focus is on the rescue operation. We are ready, capable to launch that rescue operation."
The Crisis Management Committee, a multi-agency body that includes the military, will attend to the matter, according to Brawner.
June Allan Molde, spokesman of committee, said the video was handed to “our law enforcement operatives" and subsequently turned over to the panel. He said the committee convened yesterday to watch and discuss about the video.
Molde said he was not aware of how the video was handed to law enforcers. "Basically their demand is 2 million dollars. The Philippine government has a no-ransom policy."
He said the video was apparently recorded last Oct. 24. He said Sinnott was holding a newspaper dated Oct. 22.
“As far as we are concerned, its a welcome development... at least he (Sinnott) is alive and we are very happy for that," Molde said.
Sinnott was snatched by a group of pirates from his house in Pagadian City last October 11. The military said he was brought to the boundaries of Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte where he was turned reportedly over to rogue secessionist rebels.
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